The Doctrine of the End Times: The Judgment Seat Of Christ (2024 - Part 2)
Notes
Transcript
Review
Review
Turn to 2 Corinthians 5:10-11.
We are using the historical-grammatical method of interpretation as we study the end times.
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We learned from 1 Thessalonians 4 that the next event on God’s calendar is the imminent rapture of Christ’s bride.
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After the Rapture, we have the Judgment Seat of Christ, which is an examination of all believers that are in Christ. It will include all of those who have participated in the Rapture.
The apostle, Paul, lived every day to prepare for that judgment day. He wanted to do everything he could do to be prepared. We must as well.
Tonight we’re going to continue our series and find out why we want to be prepared.
Read 2 Corinthians 5:10-11.
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Judgment Seat of Christ = Bema Seat of Christ
Another name for the Judgment Seat of Christ is the Bema Seat of Christ. These are two different names for the same event.
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Judgment Seat: βήμα
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Here’s an illustration of what a bema seat platform would have looked like.
“The Bema was a raised place mounted by steps; a platform, tribune: used of the official seat of a judge.”
Joseph Henry Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Being Grimm’s Wilke's Clavis Novi Testamenti (New York: Harper & Brothers., 1889), 101.
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When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.
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And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,
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“At this platform in Corinth (here partly restored), the Roman proconsul Gallio refused to take sides against Paul in what he considered to be a Jewish controversy (Acts 18:12–16).”
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Judgment seats were located in every city and place of authority. A Roman camp commander would have a judgment seat where he would sit and administer discipline or address his troops. But they were also used at games and tournaments. Herod built a bema seat in the theatre at Ceasarea from which he would view the games and make speeches to the people.
In Grecian games in Athens, the old arena contained a raised platform on which the president or umpire of the arena sat. From here he rewarded all the contestants; and here he rewarded all winners. It was called the “bema” or “reward seat.”
Pentecost, J. Dwight; Pentecost, J. Dwight. Things to Come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
It’s safe to say, the bema seat was a very familiar setting to the greco-roman culture of the New Testament. It seems that they were as common across the Roman Empire as the Post Office is common across the United States. The bema was a raised platform and the seat would be brought and placed on top of it. Whoever was being judged at the tribunal or was rewarded at the games would stand down below.
That’s the picture that God used to describe this future event where we will judged by Christ. It helps us understand what this event will be like. God chose this place, that was so familiar to New Testament believers, and used it to illustrate for us what this future judgment will be like for believers.
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The place of the Judgment Seat
This judgment must take place somewhere in Heaven, the domain of God.
How do we know this? See 2 Corinthians 5:8.
2 Corinthians 5:8 indicates that we will be “present with the Lord” and then begins to describe the Judgment Seat.
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The time of the Judgment Seat
There are at least two reasons why it seems that the timing of this judgement has a set window of opportunity. This judgment of New Testament believers will happen sometime after the Rapture but before Christ returns to earth again at the Second Coming.
Because when Christ comes for His bride, He will come bringing a reward.
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
…the reward is associated with “that day,” that is, the day in which He comes for His own. Thus it must be observed that the rewarding of the church must take place between the rapture and the revelation of Christ to the earth.
Pentecost, J. Dwight; Pentecost, J. Dwight. Things to Come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
Because when Christ returns at the Second Coming, we who have been raptured will be returning with Him.
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
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The judge at the Judgment Seat
We know that the judge will be Jesus Christ for two reasons:
The Father has committed all judgment to the Son - John 5:22.
The court is His - 2 Corinthians 5:10.
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The basis of the examination at the Judgment Seat
We will be examined concerning our works, not our sins.
The issue here is not to determine whether the one judged is a believer or not. The question of salvation is not being considered. The salvation given the believer in Christ has perfectly delivered him from all judgment (Rom. 8:1; John 5:24; 1 John 4:17).
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
If there is no condemnation for the believer, then sin cannot be the reason for this judgment. My sin was judged at the cross, but my works as a Christian will be judged by Christ.
And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Instead…
The purpose of the bema is to make a public manifestation…of the essential character and motives of the individual.
We will stand and be judged individually before the Lord. It is impossible that we will be judged for sins committed because the sin of all believers was placed upon Jesus and judged on the Cross of Calvary. He who knew no sin, became sin for us. Jesus cried, “It is finished!” There the judgment of sin for the believer was forever settled.
“The judgment is not to determine what is ethically good or evil, but rather that which is acceptable and that which is worthless.”
Therefore, “it is not the Lord’s purpose here to chasten His child for his sins, but to reward his service for those things done in the name of the Lord.”
“What did you do with your life after I saved you?”
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The result of the examination at the Judgment Seat
Read 1 Corinthians 3:14-15.
“In 1 Corinthians 3:14-15 it is declared that there will be a twofold result of this examination: a reward received or a reward lost. That which determines whether one receives or loses a reward is the trial by fire...”
Our works that we did on earth will be tested, not for their outward significance, but for their “inner character and motivation.” For example, if I preach a message trusting in my own ability, it will be found worthless. But if you go and rake the leaves in your elderly neighbor’s yard and do it with a right motive, you will be rewarded.
The examination at the bema of Christ is to determine that which was done by God through the individual and that which the individual did in his own strength; that which was done for the glory of God and that which was done for the glory of the flesh. It can not be determined by outward observation into which class any “work” falls, so that work must be put into the [fire] in order that its true character may be proved.
Christ will test our works by fire and make a decision on each one:
1. There will be loss of reward for that which is proven by the fire to be destructible.
2. There will be a reward bestowed for that work that is proved to be indestructible by the fire test.
The rewards given seem to be the following five crowns:
1. The incorruptible crown - the victor’s crown - 1 Cor. 9:25
2. The crown of righteousness - for those who love His appearing - 2 Tim. 4:8
3. The crown of rejoicing - witnessing crown - 1 Thess. 2:19-20
4. The crown of life - martyr’s crown - Rev. 2:10
5. The crown of glory - elder’s crown - 1 Pe. 5:2-4.
In Revelation 4:10, where the elders are seen to be casting their crowns before the throne in an act of worship and adoration, it is made clear that the crowns will not be for the eternal glory of the recipient, but for the glory of the Giver.
"My greatest fear is not that I will fail, but that I will succeed in that which does not matter." - DL Moody